Apparatus for killing poultry.



V. CASSARD.

APPARATUS FOR KILLING POULTRY. APPLICATION rum: AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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VERNON GASSARD, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

APIPARATUS FOR, KILLING POULTRY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24., 1914.

Application filed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON CAssAno, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Stamford, county of Fairfield, State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Killing Poultry, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for killing poultry.

More specifically, this invention has for its object the provision ofmeans for killing poultry in a manner whereby the operation will be ofleast objection to the operator, involve minimum pain to the fowloperated on and at the same time insure marketable condition of thekilled fowl.

In accordance with my invention, the fowl is suspended from clampingmeans, and after adjustment of the head of the fowl, the operation ofsevering the arteries of the neck is performed mechanically, and, ifdesired, out of the sight of the operator.

Further features of my invention comprise the adjustable mounting meansof the clamp for the feet of the fowl, and adjustable head clamps forproperly positioning fowl of varying sizes.

In addition, my invention comprises the feature of a hammer forcooperating with the lance to render the fowl unconscious in minimuminterval of time, such hammer being preferably operated automatically bythe operating means of the lance.

Further features and objects of my invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description and accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing an apparatus forkilling poultry constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is aplan view of Fig. 1, with the foot clamps removed; Fig. 3 is a detaildiagrammatic elevation showing one form of mounting for the foot clamps;Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the foot clamps; and Fig. 5 is adetail showingthe modified arrangement of adjusting the members of thehead clamps.

Referring to the drawings, the frame 1 of the apparatus for killingpoultry is indicated as a trough serving jointly as a base for thevarious parts of my apparatus and to collect blood and othermatterincident to killing poultry, thereby rendering the operationsanitary. If desired, a hood or cover may be placed over the top of thetrough l to conceal the operation of the apparatus after the fowl hasbeen properly positioned therein.

The feet of the fowl are held in the foot clamp comprising the clampmembers 2, 3, shown hinged together and provided with suitable openings1, 5, for receiving the two feet of the fowl, and holding the same atspaced relation. The clamp members 2, 3, are locked by means of theregistering openings 6, .7, constructed to receive the pin 8. The footclamp 2, 3, is preferably mounted on adjustable supports, such as theoppositely resilient feet 9, 9,and the sets of vertically arranged steps10, 10.

The lance 12 for severing the neck arteries of the fowl is operated bythe lever I 13 pivoted at 1 1 to the frame 1. The lance 12 is guided bythe guide member 15 mounted on the bar 16 carried by the frame 1. Thelink 17 is pivoted to the lance 12 at 18 and pivoted to the lever 13 bymeans of the slotted pivotal connection 19. The head clamp is showncomprising the fixed clamp member 20 carried by bar 16 and theyieldingly mounted clamp member 21 shown spring pressed toward the fixedclamp member 20 by means of the spring 22. If desired, both clampmembers 20, 21, may be mutually adjusted by adjusting means such as bymounting said clamp members 21, 22, on the right and left screw threadedshaft 35, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby upon properly turning the shaft35, clamp members 21, 22, may be moved away or toward one other, asdesired.

The hammer 23 is shown pivoted on the rod 24: normally tensioned by thespring 25 toward the bar 16 whereby the hammer 23 serves to complete thesquare inclosure for the head of the fowl bounded on the remaining sidesby the head clamps 20, 21, and a portion of the bar 16. For simplicityof construction, uide 15, fixed head clamp 20 and adjusted head clamp 21are mounted on the metal plate 26 secured by screws or the like to thebar 16.

After the feet of the fowl have been respectively positioned within theopenings 4, 5, of the foot clamp 2, 3, and properly adjusted verticallyby means of the clamp feet 9, 9, and steps 10, the hammer 23 is manuallymoved away from the bar 16 to permit the head of the fowl to be insertedbetween the head clamps 20, 21, whereupon the hammer 23 under restraintby the hand of the operator will be allowed to come in contact with thebase of the head of the fowl, thereby holding the head of the fowlsecurely in position. The lever 13 is now pushed toward the fowl causingthe lance 12 to pierce the arteries of the fowl without severing thehead of the fowl from the body. The blood and such other matter which bedischarged incident to the killing of the fowl will be caught within thetrough 1.

Suitable means is provided for operating the hammer 23 practicallysimultaneously with the operation of the lance 12. 1 have shown thehooks 27 having each arm 36 pivoted at 28 to the lever 13 and passingthrough a guide slot 29 through one side of the frame 1. The hooks 27cooperate with trips 30 of the handle 31 of the hammer 23 whereby eachhook 27 will pass from one side of its trip 30 to the other when thehandle13 is moved in the direction to operate the lance 12 but upon thereturn stroke of the handle 13, each hook 27 engages its trip 30 forcingthe hammer 23 to be oscillated and. tension the spring 25. After thehammer 23 has been moved sufficiently outward away from the head of thefowl, each hook 27 will be cleared of its trip 30 of the handle 31,thereby releasing the hammer 23 to permit the same to strike the base ofthe head of the fowl.

It will be noted that the hammer serves to retain the head of the fowlin proper position, prior to and during the lancing operation, and thatthe hammer 23 also retains the head of the fowl in proper position afterthe hammer 23 has struck the head of, the fowl, rendering it unconsciousand at the same time preventing the fowl from flap ping about andspreading the discharged blood. The arms 36 also serve to.

restrict the flapping of the fowls wings. The clearance 37 in hammer 23is profor the point of the lance 12.

Whereas 1 have described my invention by reference to certain specificforms, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may bemade without departing from my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a poultrykilling device, the combination of a trough, foot clamps, a lancepositioned within the said trough, means for operating said lance andmeans for adjustably positioning said clamps on said trough relative tosaid lance.

2. In a poultry killing device, the combination of a trough, footclamps, a lance positioned within said trough, means for operating saidlance, said operating means com prising a lever positioned outside ofsaid trough and means for adj ustably positioning said foot clamps onsaid trough relative to said lance.

3. In a poultry killing device,thecombination of a frame, foot clamps,means for adjustablv mounting said foot clamps. on said frame, a lancedisposed within said frame, concussive means carried by said frame forstriking the head of the fowl, and a lever for operating said lance andsaid concussive means.

at. In a poultry killing device, the combination of a lance, concussivemeans for striking the head of the fowl and means for mounting saidconcussive means to hold the head of the fowl in operative relation tosaid lance.

5. In a poultry killing device, thecomloina-v tion of a lance, ofconcussive means for striking the head of the fowl and common means foroperating said lance and said concussive means. a

6. In a poultry killing device, a frame, a lance positioned within saidframe, concussive means disposed within said frame serving to strike thehead of the fowl, and common means for operating said lance and saidconcussive means.

7. In a poultry killing device, a frame, a lance positioned within saidframe, concus sive means disposed within said frame serving to strikethe head of the fowl, and common means for operating said lance and saidconcussive means, said common means comprising a handle positionedoutside of said frame.

8. In a poultry killing device, a lance, a clamp for the head of thefowl positioned adjacent said lance, and concussive means disposedadjacent said clamp and adapted to strike the head of the fowl.

9. In a poultry killing device, the combination of a frame, a lancedisposed within said frame, a lever for operating said lance, a clampfor the head of the fowl disposed adjacent said lance, concussive meansdisposed adjacent said clamp, and means controlled by said lever foroperating said concussive means.

10. In a poultry killing device, a lance, a clamp for the head of thefowl positioned adjacent said lance comprising relatively adjustableclamp members adjacent said lance, concussive means disposed adjacentsaid clamp, and means controlled by said lever 10 for operating saidconcussive means.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

VERNON CASSARD. Witnesses:

EDWARD N. BUCHANAN, STANLEY T. JENNINGS- Oopies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner ofPatents, Washington, 13.0.

